Active laminar flow control system with composite panel

Abstract

An assembly is provided for active laminar flow control. This assembly includes a panel, which panel includes an outer skin, an inner skin and a plurality of plenums between the outer skin and the inner skin. Each of the plurality of plenums is fluidly coupled with a respective array of perforations through the outer skin. The panel is constructed from fiber-reinforced composite material.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An assembly for active laminar flow control, comprising:
 a panel comprising an outer skin, an inner skin, a core section and a plurality of plenums; 
 the core section extending between and connected to the outer skin and the inner skin, and the core section comprising a first sidewall; 
 the plurality of plenums between the outer skin and the inner skin, each of the plurality of plenums fluidly coupled with a respective array of perforations through the outer skin, and a laterally adjacent pair of the plurality of plenums laterally separated by and partially formed by the first sidewall; and 
 the panel constructed from fiber-reinforced composite material; 
 wherein the core section further comprises a plurality of corrugations arranged between the outer skin and the inner skin; 
 wherein a first of the plurality of corrugations comprises a bridge, the first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first flange and a second flange; and 
 wherein a first perforation in the respective array of perforations extends through the outer skin and the first flange. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction system fluidly coupled with one or more of the plurality of plenums. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is configured from the fiber-reinforced composite material as a monolithic body. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of corrugations form sidewalls of the plurality of plenums; and 
 one of the sidewalls of the plurality of plenums is the first sidewall. 
 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein
 the bridge extends between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and is connected to the inner skin; 
 the first sidewall and the second sidewall each extend between the inner skin and the outer skin; 
 the first flange projects out from the first sidewall and is connected to the outer skin; and 
 the second flange projects out from the second sidewall and is connected to the outer skin. 
 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein a first of the plurality of corrugations is bonded to at least one of the outer skin and the inner skin. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein
 the panel further comprises a spacer; 
 a first of the plurality of corrugations is connected directly to the outer skin; and 
 a second of the plurality of corrugations is connected indirectly to the outer skin through the spacer. 
 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a first distance between the outer skin and the inner skin at the first of the plurality of corrugations is equal to a second distance between the outer skin and the inner skin at the second of the plurality of corrugations. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein
 the panel further comprises a spacer; 
 a first of the plurality of corrugations is connected directly to the inner skin; and 
 a second of the plurality of corrugations is connected indirectly to the inner skin through the spacer. 
 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the outer skin has a first thickness, and a second portion of the outer skin has a second thickness that is different from the first thickness. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a nacelle for an aircraft propulsion system, wherein the nacelle comprises the panel. 
     
     
       12. An assembly for active laminar flow control, comprising:
 a panel comprising an outer skin, an inner skin, a plurality of corrugations and a plurality of plenums, the panel constructed from fiber-reinforced composite material; 
 the plurality of corrugations arranged between the outer skin and the inner skin; 
 the plurality of plenums between the outer skin and the inner skin, each of the plurality of plenums fluidly coupled with a respective array of perforations through the outer skin; 
 a first of the plurality of corrugations comprising a bridge, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first flange and a second flange; 
 the bridge extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and the bridge connected to the inner skin; 
 the first sidewall and the second sidewall each extending between the inner skin and the outer skin, the first sidewall laterally between and partially forming a first of the plurality of plenums and a second of the plurality of plenums; 
 the first flange projecting out from the first sidewall and connected to the outer skin; and 
 the second flange projecting out from the second sidewall and connected to the outer skin; 
 wherein a first perforation in the respective array of perforations extends through the outer skin and the first flange; and 
 wherein the first perforation is fluidly coupled with the first of the plurality of plenums. 
 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the second sidewall is laterally between and partially forms the second of the plurality of plenums and a third of the plurality of plenums. 
     
     
       14. An assembly for active laminar flow control, comprising:
 a panel comprising an outer skin, an inner skin, a plurality of corrugations and a plurality of plenums, the panel constructed from fiber-reinforced composite material; 
 the plurality of corrugations arranged between the outer skin and the inner skin; 
 the plurality of plenums between the outer skin and the inner skin, each of the plurality of plenums fluidly coupled with a respective array of perforations through the outer skin; 
 a first of the plurality of corrugations comprising a bridge, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first flange and a second flange; 
 the bridge extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and the bridge connected to the inner skin; 
 the first sidewall and the second sidewall each extending between the inner skin and the outer skin; 
 the first flange projecting out from the first sidewall and connected to the outer skin, wherein a first perforation extends through the outer skin and the first flange to a first of the plurality of plenums; and 
 the second flange projecting out from the second sidewall and connected to the outer skin. 
 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein a second perforation extends through the outer skin to a second of the plurality of plenums. 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first sidewall is laterally between and partially forms the first of the plurality of plenums and the second of the plurality of plenums. 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a third perforation extends through the outer skin and the second flange to a third of the plurality of plenums.